Can puncturing device



Dec. 5, 1933. w. TgMEAD` 1,937,975.

' CAN'PUNCTURING DEVICE Filed Jan. 2v. 1952 l l. l r l I IN V EN TOR.

Patented Dec. 5, 1933 ,UNITED s'rA'l?- 1,931,915 CAN P nNc'rUmNG DEVICE waiter T. Mead,

Los Angeles, Calif. i

Application January 27, 1932. Serial No. 589,218 i 2 Claims.

rlhis invention relates to a can puncturing de.

by the progressive strokes of a cutting and forme ing die, the remaining portion of the device being readily formedby the use of can making machinery now on the market. f

Another objecty of the invention-is to provide a Acan puncturing device which will also be adapted for use as a closure means to prevent the entrance of air into the can through the openings which have been punctured thereinto, thus pre-- serving the partly used contents of the can in a more eiective manner. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide a very small compact device Awhich can be kept in place upon the can which it has been used to open and willnot materiallyadd to the space occupied by such can.

Other objects, advantages and features ofthe invention may hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates what is at present deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig.'1 is a vertical mid-section of the device showing the same in place upon a can after the puncturing operation has been performed, the

outline of the can being indicated in broken lines.

The line 1-1 on Fig. 2 indicates the line of section in this View.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device looking at the inside thereof. Fig. 3`is an enlarged side elevation of an end portion of the device to illustrate more clearly the puneturing element. f

Referring in detail tothe drawing, the device comprises a holder 7 deslrably shaped similarly to the lid of the can 8 which is to be opened but said holder is of a slightly greater diameter than that of the can in order that it may be placed over the end portionthereof with aworking fit. Within said holder 7. is placed the' vunc'turlng member 9 preferably a rigid bar whic is provided 'at each end with a .spur 10 which is adapted to perform the puncturing operation. 1

Said bar 9 is shown preferably provided with a relatively narrow central portion 12 and a wider or expanded portion 13 at each end thereof. Each of said expanded portions 13 are desirably of the same design and terminate in short arms or extensions 14, the laterally directed 'spur located mid-way between' said extensions 14. f The distance between the extension 14 at one (Cl. 22o-51) k side of the device and the diametrically opposite extension 14 isl such that the extremities of al1 the extensions 14 fit snugly within a channel 15 which is4 provided by bending the flange 16 of the holder element 'l as shown in Fig. 1. By clamping the flanged Iportion of said holder element'l down upon the extremities of the extensions 14 as illustrated a secure means is provided lfor 'retaining the'puncturlng element inl its operative position. It will be observed that opposite each end of the bar `9,'a clearance 201s provided,'the depth of said clearance being suilicient to preventthe spurs l0 from coming too close to the side wall of the can to be punctured when the device is in operative position upon the end of such can. l

Owing to the act that the bar 9 is stamped out of a sheet or p ate of metal and the spurs 10 are each located at edge portionsof saidsbar, the die for stamping out the bar and forming the spurs is of a-simpler character than would be required if the spursI were otherwise formed. Furthermoreby locating the spurs at edge portions of the bar the bar isf not weakened as it would be if the formation of the spurs involved the formation of punctures through the bar.

In the operation of the device the holder "l is put in place over the end portlonof the can butits movement over the can is temporarily arrested by reason of the points of the spurs 10 engaging the upper end of the can. With the device in this position it is only necessary to strike the top' of the device with suiilcient force to puncture the ner portions or-extensions at the end edges of' said bar arranged in pairs with a recess between the members of each pair, and a laterally extending puncturlng spur .struck out toward the samev side of said bar.

2. Asl an article of manufacture, a bar of sheet metal for a can puncturing device comprising corner portions or extensions arrangedv in pairs ai members of each pair, and av laterally extending puncturing spur struck' out toward the same side `of said bar, said spurs being located at substantlie end edges of said bar with a recess betwJeen the can to be opened by means of the spurs 10. By

tially the middle of the edge portion of said re- CeSSeS. WALTER T. MEAD. 

